Within every classroom, student mental health is a foundation for learning and well-being. However, stigma – the negative perceptions and attitudes that often surround mental health – can undermine that foundation. As an educator, understanding the impact of stigma and having strategies to counter it can make a world of difference for your students. In this post, you’ll learn about the effects of mental health stigma, how to address unconscious bias, and no-cost resources you can use to create a Stigma-Free school environment.
How Stigma Shows Up in the Classroom
Stigma often goes unnoticed, but the effects are real and felt deeply by individuals. People facing mental health challenges often say that dealing with the associated stigma is more difficult than coping with their condition. For students, stigma may fuel bullying or exclusion. It can erode their confidence, discourage them from seeking help, and sometimes hinder educators’ ability to respond effectively.
Reflecting on Unconscious Bias
School staff strive to be supportive of students, but unconscious biases around mental health can influence their responses at times. These biases are implicit, automatic assumptions or stereotypes people may hold about individuals facing mental health challenges, often without even realizing it. They might stem from societal attitudes, upbringing, or a lack of awareness. Everyone has unconscious biases, and they can be addressed with consistent effort when they are reflected on. 
To actively reduce the impact of unconscious bias, a helpful first step is to think about your own beliefs related to mental health and how they might affect your approach as an educator. Consider how your perceptions may influence decisions around discipline or grading, as well as daily interactions with students.
Seeking context about students’ circumstances and their underlying needs is another way to combat unconscious bias and respond empathetically. Continuous learning and self-reflection can help you create a more equitable and uplifting learning environment for all students, no matter the challenges they may be facing.
More Strategies to Dispel Classroom Stigma
In addition to your own self-reflection, here are a few ways you can encourage students to live Stigma-Free:
Contact-Based Learning
Hearing personal stories from people with lived experience helps your students challenge myths and harmful beliefs about mental illness. Our Stigma-Free Presentations use contact-based learning to educate students on mental health, allowing them to ask questions and interact directly with presenters who share their journey and knowledge.
What educators are saying about our presentations and the power of contact-based learning:
“I have worked with Stigma free society for many years and have welcomed numerous presenters from all sorts of backgrounds into my classroom. The presenters are always well prepared, open and generous with their time and the sharing their experiences. Their visits spark meaningful and memorable discussions with my students and are often a highlight of the term. We know that one of the best ways to combat stigma is through contact based education. Stigma Free society provides the opportunity for students to meet, listen to and learn from courageous presenters. It makes the learning real and relevant and is an invaluable resource.”
-Laurel Brach-Richey, Psychology and English Teacher, School District # 61
Book a Stigma-Free Presentation for your school at no cost today.
Build Awareness Over Time
Rather than one-off conversations, ongoing, age-appropriate dialogue is more effective in reducing stigma. Our Student Mental Health Toolkit provides school staff with lesson plans, student activities, and a collection of resources for continuous mental health education.
Support Student Leadership
Peer support is powerful: when students share experiences or lead initiatives related to mental health, they also model acceptance and normalize seeking help. Creating spaces for student voices on this issue – like Stigma-Free Clubs – can lead to a ripple effect at your school.
With the right tools and awareness, educators can turn classrooms into places of understanding and acceptance for everyone. Our no-cost resources are here to help you make this goal a reality. Check out our Stigma-Free School Program for more information and take the next step toward creating an inclusive school community.
References:
Canada: Schools tackle mental illness stigma. (2012, May 21). Education International.
Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2013, February 6). Stigma: The Facts.
University of Victoria. (n.d.). Unconscious bias. UVic.ca.
Author: Monique Zizzo
